Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[BrianR]

Just a quick update from Hersheypark. As the day has gone on a lot more chinstraps instead of masks.

The water park area is a bit of a mess as masks not required so no one is wearing one - and no social distancing going on in lines for lazy river and stuff like that

I will say overall the park is really empty - we just rode the new big coaster and it was a 5 minute wait. Given that is is pretty easy to stay far enough away from people but if it was any more crowded then I probably wouldn't feel safe enough here

I was just at Hersheypark yesterday and every single employee I saw was wearing a face mask. I also encountered two different security guards telling guests to put on their masks. I felt very safe at HP and am going again on Wednesday.

*I know I’m quoting you and your quoting someone else that asked another poster about HP (hope that all makes sense ). I can’t find the originally posters post, which is why I’m quoting you.

@DisneyEater Sounds like it depends on where you are and what time of day gets you different results.

 

[CheetoGuido]

There were posts a few days back about the chiffon masks with attached scarves. I had ordered the Vivian and Vincent ones a few weeks back and they arrived quickly. I followed advice from a poster on here and carefully used a thread ripper to remove the scarf portion and it worked great—no running of the material. I placed a second order because I think these will be our go-to outdoor masks for our upcoming trip. There are other brands of similar masks available on Amazon.

HI Dreamit, any chance you can share a link to what you ordered? I am currently making homemade masks with the thinnest/most breathable fabric I could find; but I wouldn't mind adding more mask options for our large group, I want to have multiple masks for each person. Thank you!

 

[Bibbobboo2u]

have to use my first reservation to be able to grab Epcot, currently there are only 2 days left in July for AP reservations

Maybe some will open up if people decide not to travel to wdw right now. I will be following you this week - have a great time!!

 

[BrianR]

They would, but the Mayor isn't going to do that. I suspect the change in bars opening was to cater to Disney wanting to open their bars. If Disney closes anything, it'll be because they choose to. The gov't isn't going to do anything to slow them down.

I'm not sure what OCCC has going on, but I would think much more the support entertainment for the convention center would be the concern vs. a couple of supplemental bars at Disney if anything. None of those places open = whatever conventions that are left being cancelled + room block cancellations is a much much higher dollar amount and impact vs. the delta of a few specific bars at Disney.

 

[disny_luvr]

@DisneyEater Sounds like it depends on where you are and what time of day gets you different results.

I agree! I will also add, I wasn’t in the water park at all yesterday so I can’t attest to that area of the park.

 

[Tjddis]

This says it all for everyone going, which may include myself later this year. It is not alarmist to say this, it is practical. We should all be realistic about the possibility of catching the virus if we go anywhere, but especially a large place like Disney where we will be exposed to more people than usual. Preventative measures will never be 100% effective, and while it would be nice to think that full compliance will be achieved at Disney, it just isn't realistic.

So really I see 2 different arguments emerging from those heading to WDW

the first would be I am going, I might get it and I’m ok with that because nothing is foolproof and if I get it it won’t affect me that much because I am young and healthy

the second is I wont get it because I trust Disney to keep me from getting it.

both perspectives include the idea that it is unreasonable to continue lockdown and cite either of the above reasons in their desire to get on with life

so really if you are still on the fence it kinda comes down to your evaluation of those 2 arguments no? Sure there are other factors (losing money/points, limited experience) but as far as COVID related changes that’s it...

 

[Anna_Sh]

So really I see 2 different arguments emerging from those heading to WDW

the first would be I am going, I might get it and I’m ok with that because nothing is foolproof and if I get it it won’t affect me that much because I am young and healthy

the second is I wont get it because I trust Disney to keep me from getting it.

both perspectives include the idea that it is unreasonable to continue lockdown and cite either of the above reasons in their desire to get on with life

so really if you are still on the fence it kinda comes down to your evaluation of those 2 arguments no? Sure there are other factors (losing money/points, limited experience) but as far as COVID related changes that’s it...

My personal point of view is a modified version of your 2nd argument:

I trust Disney to do a good job keeping me safe, AND I plan to be insanely paranoid—no table service restaurants, staying out of mask relaxation zones, avoiding any part of the park (including many rides) that I am not personally convinced will allow me to safely socially distance, avoiding all mass transit options, and wearing the thickest mask that won’t suffocate me in the Florida heat.

 

[Tjddis]

This is right on point. To think that somehow Disney can prevent the spread isn't being realistic. They can't be everywhere monitoring everyone and if we know anything, it's that some people will push the limits and take off their masks, not wash their hands and touch everything in sight. especially those who just won't believe this thing is real. So no, I'm not ok with getting Covid-19 nor putting my family at risk of catching it, nevermind the risk of bringing it back to my community and being a source of spread.

My wife and I made ourselves nuts early on with all the back and forth. Yeah, we put on masks and gloves to the grocery store, kept far away from people. But who knows who picked up that soda bottle before we did, who sneezed over the freezer case before we got there etc. you can really make yourself crazy if you want. You just have to do the best you can and you can’t control others. For us it comes down to minimizing points of contacts where we can and that sadly at this time means no WDW for us.

 

[dreamit]

I would be cautious relying on the Chiffon masks, especially without a filter layer. A tightly woven cotton, with multiple layers, will have a denser microscopic structure and be able to filter out more particles.

My understanding is that, generally, masks only protect others (to a degree). They only protect you if you’re using a filter. I plan to use the chiffon one outside at the parks. I have non-filtered cotton and linen masks I’ll use indoors at WDW, and filtered ones I’ll use at the airport and on our flight.

 

[Tjddis]

I think anyone on this thread knows the risks of going or not going. We are all very informed at this point. Go... don't go... it's a personal choice. Can we just move on?

Clearly there are people still on the fence and they are coming here to get different perspectives. Many use these boards for advice when planning trips and unfortunately as the title of the thread suggests this is an aspect to planning now. Sadly

 

[Jrb1979]

https://blogmickey.com/2020/07/epcot-mexico-pavilion-restaurants-and-bars-hit-by-layoffs/

 

[dreamit]

I was wondering If these mask are so comfortable to wear would it provide sufficient protection against the air I breath out? I`m genuinely curious. When you breath out or blow can you feel it like you wouldn`t wear a mask at all? Thinking of buying some....

I just tested. If I blow out with force, I can feel air, but that also happened with the linen and cotton masks, maybe just not quite as much. But, I do think the chiffon and the double-layered linen were similar.

 

[Disneysoule]

Clearly there are people still on the fence and they are coming here to get different perspectives. Many use these boards for advice when planning trips and unfortunately as the title of the thread suggests this is an aspect to planning now. Sadly

Just seems like it's mostly people wanting to tell others they are wrong or right if they decide to go. I don't think that is the spirit of the thread.

 

[Jothmas]

So really I see 2 different arguments emerging from those heading to WDW

the first would be I am going, I might get it and I’m ok with that because nothing is foolproof and if I get it it won’t affect me that much because I am young and healthy

the second is I wont get it because I trust Disney to keep me from getting it.

both perspectives include the idea that it is unreasonable to continue lockdown and cite either of the above reasons in their desire to get on with life

so really if you are still on the fence it kinda comes down to your evaluation of those 2 arguments no? Sure there are other factors (losing money/points, limited experience) but as far as COVID related changes that’s it...

You’ve stated the first argument in a way to disparage. It would be better to state it as, I could get Covid-19 at WDW, and I’m NOT okay with that, but I realize I could also become infected by staying in my home city and not going to WDW.

 

[ShiveredTimbers]

My understanding is that, generally, mask only protect others (to a degree). They only protect you if you’re using a filter. I plan to use the chiffon one outside at the parks. I have non-filtered cotton and linen masks I’ll use indoors at WDW, and filtered ones I’ll use at the airport and on our flight.

This is my plan exactly for my family!

 

[dreamit]

HI Dreamit, any chance you can share a link to what you ordered? I am currently making homemade masks with the thinnest/most breathable fabric I could find; but I wouldn't mind adding more mask options for our large group, I want to have multiple masks for each person. Thank you!

Based on another poster’s review, I ordered from Vivian and Vincent—great price and fast shipping. But, you can also find on Amazon by searching for “chiffon mask scarf”.
https://vivianvincent.com/collections/cloth-face-mask

 

[Tiki Birdland]

I more saw the go/don't go comments from multiple members as simply their opinion. And, I think they all should be treated that way.

Frankly, we used those thoughts a couple of weeks ago to determine that we were better off simply staying at home and sitting this trip out. My F-I-L is 91 and the last thing I want is for him to get sick due to our actions. Really disappointed but still think we made the right decision for our family. The sad part is that we would have been packing the car up for WDW on Saturday this week. As someone pointed out earlier, it really does feel like Groundhog Day. I just wish I had a polka to go to...

Just seems like it's mostly people wanting to tell others they are wrong or right if they decide to go. I don't think that is the spirit of the thread.

 

[Anthony Vito]

Isn't that basically an either or thing. It's either reusable or disposable. Is there a 3rd category I'm missing?

Self destructs?

 

[Leigh L]

Based on another poster’s review, I ordered from Vivian and Vincent—great price and fast shipping. But, you can also find on Amazon by searching for “chiffon mask scarf”.
https://vivianvincent.com/collections/cloth-face-mask

I ordered these a couple of days ago, they should arrive later this week!
This brand on Amazon doesn't arrive until mid to late August when I first tried to order them. There are other brands on Amazon but I read some good - and bad - reviews about those. Since I keep seeing this brand positively mentioned here and other reviews were good, decided to give those a try and ordered directly

 

[Shellyred8]

Golden oak outpost seems like an odd place to put a mask free zone. It's in the walkway from Adventureland to frontierland, and not a very wide walkway...

There's a seating area right next to the Golden Oak Outpost with tables and chairs that is to the side of the building and not IN the walkway. It is kind of small though, so not many people will be able to be there at once.